Key case



1, 1950 F. o. MCPHERSON El'AL 2,517,500

KEY CASE Filed 001;. 30, 1947 Floyd 0. McPherson Carl 6. Gundersan 1N VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 KEY CASE Floyd 0. McPherson, Ridgcway, Wis., and CarlG.

Gunder'son, Frost, Minn.; said Gunderson,asa signor to said McPherson l l Application October 30, 1947, Serial Nonsams This invention relates to. new and seful improvements in key cases and more particularly this invention relates to an improvement in Patent No. 2,306,970. i i

The primary object of the present invention is to provide akey case including novel and improved means for retaining one or more keys i position to the case, U

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a key case including novel and improved meansyfor actuating or releasing the meansfor holding the keysin the case.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a key case so constructed as to present a smooth surfaced article of compact form that occupies very little space.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a key case that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, neat and attractive in appearance, relativel inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the present key case, with parts broken away and shown in section, and with dotted lines showing a key retained therein;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1, and showing a plurality of keys fixedly positioned in the case;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2, and showing in dotted lines the manner in which the keys are released from the case;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the spacer strips used in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure l to show the manner in which the spacer strips are retained relative to the walls of the case; and,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the key case in slightly modified form.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present in vention, the numeral Ill represents the present key case generally, comprising a pair of spaced 5 Claims. (01. 70- 156) parallel outer walls l2 and I4- and: an intermediate wall I6, all ofwhich are provided with enlarged, rounded rear edges [8 and forwardly converging edges 20 and 22 that terminate in a rounded for- "ward edge 24. l i i The outer walls 12 and I4, and the intermediate it wall I 6 are retained spaced relative to each other by spacer strips 26, the lower edges 28 of which are co-planar with the edges 20 of the walls I2, I I andrlfi. The forward arcuated extremities of 7 these spacer strips are disposed adjacent the forward edges 24 and, the'outer edge 29 of th extremitiesSll are co-planar with the edges '24 of the a walls; l

Removably connecting thel rear portions of the walls, l2, l4 and I6, is a transverse pin 32 that piv-' otally supports a plurality of keys 34 that are placeable between the outer walls and intermediate wall.

or rod 40, one extremity 42 of which normally projects outwardly from aperture 38 and the other extremity 44 of which abuts one end 46 of a leaf spring or resilient arm 48 that is positioned between the walls l2 and I5 and which has one end fixed in slots or openings 41 in one of said spacer strips. A vertical recess 49 is provided in the inner face of wall I B and opposes the spring arm 48. The free end 50 of this spring arm is .fiared outwardly to facilitate the placement of a key between the spring arm and the inner face of wall I 2 to be frictionally retained in position therebetween.

An annular shoulder 52 is provided about the rod 40 and limits the outward movement of the rod relative to wall l2.

Slidably mounted in opposed apertures 53 in the walls i2 and I B, and in grooves 54 provided in the spacer strips between the walls [2, l4 and i6, is a further transverse push rod 56, one end 53 of which normally projects outwardly from wall I2 and the other end of which abuts one end 62 of a further spring arm 64 having a flared free end portion 66 that facilitates the placement of a key between the spring arm 56 and wall IS. The opposite end of said spring arm 64. is fixed in a further slot 41 provided in the spacer strip between the walls [4 and IS. A recess 68 is also provided in the inner face of wall It and opposes the arm 64.

The rod 56 is also provided with an annular rib or shoulder 10 that bears against the inner face of wall it to limitthe outward movement or the push rod 56 relative to the wall l2, and to correctly position the arm 64 between walls 14 and i6 so that the same will frictionally engage a key plate between the walls l4 and Hi.

To release a key engaged between the spring arm and the outer wall, it is merely necessary to press the push rod inwardly, so that the spring arm will engage the recess oposing the same and the case may be inverted whereby the key will pivot outwardly therefrom.

Figure 6 illustrates the present key holder in slightly modified form, wherein the outer wall I l, push rod 58, and spring arm 64 are removed therefrom so that the same may be reduced in size and so that the same will receive a single key, although the relative distance between walls l2 and It may be increased so that the same may engage a, plurality of keys.

It is preferred, that one face of the spacer strip 25 be provided with protuberances or projections 12 that irictionally engage suitable seats orrecesses 13 provided in either the side walls l2 and Her the intermediate Wall l6.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a, clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred emodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

1. A key case comprising first and second'side walls, an intermediate wall disposed between said side walls, spacer strips interposed between said intermediate wall and each of said side walls,

what is.

means for retaining said spa-oer strips relative to said side walls, first and second spring arms disposed between said intermediate wall and said first and second side walls, said spring arms including inne end portions anchored to said spacer strips, a first push rod slidably carried by said first side wall for actuating said first spring arm,,,and a second actuating push rod slidably carried by said intermediate wall and said first side wall for actuating said second spring arm, said first spacer strip having notches for guiding the sliding movement of said push rods.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first spring arm and said first push rod are longitudinally spaced relative to said second spring arm and said second push rod.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said intermediate wall and said second side wall include recesses for respectively receiving said first and second spring arms when said spring arms are actuated by said push rods.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the free ends of said spring arms arearcuated to provide bearing surfaces.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining said spacing strips relative to said side walls include longitudinally spaced protuberances carried by said spacing strips, said side walls having recesses for receiving said protuberances. 4

FLOYD MCPHERSON. CARL-G. GUNDERSON;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

